Former Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis, who started every game during Barry Switzer’s first three seasons as head coach and won national championships in 1974 and 1975, died Sunday in a plane crash in South Bend, Ind. He was 60. Davis and his friend Wesley Caves, 58, died when Caves’ small aircraft smashed into three homes in northern Indiana, St. Joseph County Coroner Randy Magdalinski said yesterday.

NFL: Titans release veteran QB Hasselbeck

The Titans released veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, 37, a move buying the team some more cap space after it couldn’t work out an agreement trimming his $5.5 million salary for 2013.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said his team’s contract offer to Wes Welker was better than what the receiver got in Denver.

Welker got a two-year, $12 million deal with the Broncos. Kraft said Welker could have received $8 million in the first year of a two-year contract with New England as opposed to $6 million he gets in Denver “and there is no guarantee that he plays the second year there.”

When asked about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady being upset that Welker left after Brady reworked his own contract, Kraft added: “I don’t answer to Tom Brady.”

The Atlanta City Council voted to approve a financing plan to build a new stadium for the NFL’s Falcons, removing one of the last hurdles for the downtown project that will replace the 20-year-old Georgia Dome.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calls it “unacceptable” to ask a college player at the scouting combine any questions about his sexual orientation.

The Super Bowl champion Ravens could be forced to open the season on the road because of a scheduling conflict with baseball’s Orioles on the Thursday night after Labor Day.

The NFL agreed to pay $42 million as part of a settlement with a group of retired players who challenged the league over using their names and images without their permission.

COLLEGE: Seton Hall’s Cosby to transfer

Seton Hall’s starting shooting guard Aaron Cosby is leaving after two seasons and plans to transfer to another school, coach Kevin Willard said.

HOOPS: Bynum to have season-ending surgery

Sixers center Andrew Bynum will undergo surgery on both knees today, meaning he will miss the entire season due to injury. He will become a free agent this summer, meaning he may never play for the 76ers after he was part of last summer’s four-team Dwight Howard deal.

ETC.: Bocanegra dropped for U.S. qualifiers

United States captain Carlos Bocanegra was dropped from the squad for 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones become the leading candidates to take over as captain.

The winless Red Bulls signed midfielder Marius Obekop, an 18-year-old native of Cameroon, and forward Rafhinha, a 21-year-old from Brazil.